Pac-Mania

Genre

Arcade Platform

Developer / Publisher

Domark / Krisalis

Released

1991

Media

1 x

Rating

Graphics:

8.0

Sound:

9.0

Gameplay:

9.0

Overall:

9.0

Reviewed by

ndial

Pac-Mania is a "hit" from the coin-ops, converted to almost all 8bit and 16bit computers and consoles. It is one of the best Pac Man games ever created. The NES conversion was developed in 1990 and a year later, its main antagonist's (the Master System) version followed.

Review

STORY / GAMEPLAY Pac Mania brings a different style in Pac Man gaming. The levels and characters are presented in 3D and this time Pac Man can also jump. And believe me this jump can save you from hard situations. But Pac Man must watch out for ghosts that also have jumping abilities. The main goal of the game is to swallow all the dots and complete the level. The funny ghosts now hover in the air instead of...walking. Dots and energy pellets hang in midair. In addition, Pac-Man is granted with a new power: He can jump up and over ghosts! There's also a use a Pac Booster that lets him move at super-speeds. You'll love the new challenging levels - they are available in so many mind-boggling shapes and they'll surely turn you into a certified Pac-Maniac! What a simple, addictive and excellent game to play indeed!

GRAPHICS / SOUND The Acorn Archimedes conversion is technically pretty cool. The game features nice and colorful graphics and innovative level design (much close to the original)! Although the Archimedes version is using up to 16 colors on-screen, when compared to the Amiga version (running in 32 colors) the graphics look similar and they run smooth. The Acorn sound is excellent, featuring all the original tunes and sound effects. Of note is the fact that the Archimedes' conversion sounds a little better than the Commodore Amiga counterpart (!)